New Poll Shows 76% of New Mexico Voters Support Raising Alcohol Taxes 25¢ a drink

A telephone survey of 405 likely voters shows strong support for a 25¢ per drink tax increase on alcohol purchases in New Mexico and using the revenue for alcohol and drug prevention and treatment as well as health care in the State. In total, just over three-in-four voters say they either strongly support (51%) or somewhat support (25%) a proposed 25¢ per drink tax on alcohol compared to 21% who are opposed. Informing voters that the proposed 25¢ per drink alcohol tax will increase the cost for a six-pack of beer by $1.50, a bottle of wine by $1.25, and a fifth of liquor by $4.00 has only a small impact on overall support levels. In total 71% say they either strongly support (49%) or somewhat support (22%) the 25¢ per drink tax when given the additional cost information, down only slightly from the 76% who were initially supportive of the proposal. Support levels remain steady (71%) when voters are informed the revenue generated from the 25¢ per drink tax would be used to help fund New Mexico’s Medicaid program, with 53% who say they strongly support the tax increase and 18% who are somewhat supportive.Generally speaking, voters are far more supportive of raising taxes on alcohol as a way to deal with projected state budget shortfalls as compared to raising taxes on food in grocery stores or raising taxes on gasoline. When given these three choices (or volunteering a response), over three-fifths (63%) of voters say they would prefer raising taxes on alcohol, compared to 9% who favor raising taxes on gasoline, and just 3% who would favor taxing food in grocery stores. Another 3% volunteered raising taxes on cigarettes/tobacco.